William b



(No Model.)

w. R. HODGE. v CARPET STRETGHER AND FASTENER.

Patented Aug; 16, 1881. i, .4; d

w W V Witnesses:

Mme 94.0w

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM R. HODGE, OF KEARNEY TOWNSHIP, HUDSON COUNTY, N. J.

CARPET STRETCHER AND FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 245,825, dated August 16, 1881. I

Application filed February 17, 1881. (No model.)

son and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carpet Stretchersand Fasteners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to allow the carpet to be secured to the floor or be taken up with greater facility than was possible by the old method of tacking.

It consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter shown and described, and finally embodied in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts in each of the several figures, Figure 1 is an elevation representing a corner of a room, showing the base-board both in a front view and in section, and also showing, in front and side views, means for holding the cleats in position. Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 a detached front view of a corner-fastener. Means for manipulating the devices are shown in Fig. 4.

In carrying out my invention I construct a cleat or molding, a, adapted to lie in the angle between the carpet I) and base-board c. Said cleat a is provided at appropriate intervals with projecting pins 01, adapted to catch into the carpet and hold the same. The cleat c is held in position in the angle by fasteners e e, shaped substantially as shown in Fig. 1, so as to inclose and hold the cleat a. Said fasteners e e are secured to the base-board c, as shown in drawings, by the screws or other similar means,f, and are capable of being adjusted to the cleat a-that is to say, the side-fasteners e are adapted to turn into engagement with the cleat a, as shown in Fig. 1, and the cornerfasteners 6, being incapable from their position of turning, are provided with a slot, 9, as shown in Fig. 3, by which said fastener e is lowered or raised into and from contact with the cleat a.

I have also provided means to be used in connection with the cleats for stretching the carpet, which means are shown in Fig. 4, and consist of two arms or bars, on m, which are pivoted together, as at n.

In putting my invention into practical operation I proceed as follows: The carpetis spread upon the floor, and one side of the same is laid in position against the wall or base-board, the cleats attached thereto, and firmly secured by the fasteners. The-cleat or cleats for the other side are then adjusted upon the carpet at such distance from the base-board as to allow for stretching. The arms on m are then placed in engagement with both the cleats, and pressure is applied at the point it, in consequence of which the arms spread, forcing the unsecured cleat into position against the wall, whereit is properly secured by the fasteners, as before, the same process being repeated for the other sides of the room.

The arms m, constituting the stretcher, are so arranged as to be capable of being adjusted to the size of any room by having pivotal perforations therein at appropriate distances apart, as shown in Fig. 4. When the cleats and attachments are all in position they impart a very desirable finish to the room, and also serve, in a great measure, to prevent moths from getting under the carpet.

The projecting pins d, which hold the cleat to the carpet, have preferably a slant, and are placed therein irregularly or in a zigzag position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, so as to hold the carpet more firmly and lessen its liability to ravel when the stretcher is applied.

By means of this device a carpet may be taken up or put down with great rapidity, and easily stretched to any extent to which it is capable.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim, and wish to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In a carpet stretching and fastening device, a cleat or cleats adapted to be attached to the edges of a carpet and adjustabl y secured to the wall of a room or base-board thereof, as and for the purposes set forth and shown.

arms or bars 912 m, arranged to be adjustahly pivoted together, and to operate in conj unction with the cleats a, as and for the purposes set 15 forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of November, 1880.

WILLIAM It. HODGE.

Witnesses:

OLIVER DRAKE, CHARLES Honen. 

